Belmont’s award-winning entrepreneurship program ranked 26th on the list of 300 programs
Belmont University’s Entrepreneurship Program within the Jack C. Massey College of Business has again ranked No. 1 in Tennessee in a recently released ranking from The Princeton Review in Entrepreneur magazine. The program ranked No. 6 in the South and 26th overall.
The list identifies 50 undergraduate and 50 graduate schools that the Princeton Review considers as having the best programs in entrepreneurship studies based on its June through September 2023 survey of more than 300 institutions that offer such programs.
A distinguishing component of Belmont’s entrepreneurship program is the Thomas F. Cone Center for Entrepreneurship which offers a hands-on approach that positions entrepreneurial-minded students for success in various fields and specializations. Nearly a third of the students who concentrate their studies in entrepreneurship create businesses that are their primary or sole source of income after graduation.
“The Cone Center exists to support the work of student entrepreneurs of all majors across Belmont’s campus,” Cone Center Executive Director Elizabeth Gortmaker said. “Our campus has a rich supply of visionary students who are creative, innovative and inspiring. The Cone Center strives to match the drive of our student entrepreneurs by affording them access to resources that will help them achieve their ambitious goals. We are grateful for national recognition in our area of work.”
2010 alumnus Brandon Littlejohn is the founder of Bag Lady’s Fry Joint, Nashville’s fastest-growing casual fry joint that has been featured in the Nashville Scene, Nashville Business Journal and Eater.
“Belmont University's Entrepreneurship Program goes beyond education,” Littlejohn said. “It's a nurturing space for exploration, innovation and collaboration. These essential elements have played a pivotal role in my growth and success in the entrepreneurial world."
The Entrepreneurial Spirit
Belmont has been saturated with the entrepreneurial spirit of the College of Business founder and namesake Jack C. Massey. A nationally acclaimed entrepreneur, the late Massey is still the only person to date to take three companies public at the NYSE. His zeal for entrepreneurship lives on through Belmont’s distinguished entrepreneurial-minded community.
At Belmont, entrepreneurship is integrated throughout all programs across the entire campus, creating space for creative collaborations and innovative ventures to thrive. Belmont created the first Social Entrepreneurship major in the country, which focuses on creating sustainable social enterprises.
Grace Moore graduated with a social entrepreneurship degree in 2016, and today she is the co-founder of Recess Pickleball, a thriving retailer of pickleball paddles and gear that incorporates several give-back elements in its rapidly scaling business.
“I feel rare and lucky that I'm actually using what I studied,” Moore said. “I really appreciate how hands-on social entrepreneurship was with the learning. We heard from a lot of local entrepreneurs and talked with a lot of people who we're able to share insight on what it's actually like to start a business, run a business and do it with a socially conscious cause in mind.”
Hands-on Learning
Entrepreneurship alumni have founded and led hundreds of successful ventures including national chains, socially conscious brands, cherished local retailers and renowned enterprises. The Cone Center offers a wide variety of programming and resources to support students’ needs. Thriving student organizations allow students to expand their education, network and participate in national competitions which boost their marketability upon graduating. Where the Well Things Are and House Of are student-run businesses developed through Belmont’s campus-based business program, providing the opportunity for undergraduate students to gain first-hand experience in managing a small business while serving as a location that promotes alumni businesses.
“Almost two decades after attending, I continue to use the knowledge I gained at Belmont's Cone Center daily in my business,” 2006 alumna and founder of Olivia Management Erin Anderson said. “The support I received from the Center while in college to develop my skillset and entrepreneurial ideas was invaluable. The way they still engage with me and other alumni entrepreneurs is really special.”
Belmont’s formula for equipping successful entrepreneurs has proven effective through the intentional incorporation of classroom knowledge with practical application. Practicing entrepreneurs have a host of resources and support systems. Each year, students can participate in the Business Plan and Business Pitch Competitions to win cash prizes and business-building tools. Alumni entrepreneurs offer one-on-one advising to student entrepreneurs, help support other campus programs and spread the entrepreneurial mindset to all corners of campus through the entrepreneurs-in-residence program. Student entrepreneurs also benefit from the Hatchery, Accelerator, Endowed Grant Fund, Workshop Series, Alumni Mentor network and Entrepreneurship Villages.
Continued Success
Since 2006, The Princeton Review has partnered with Entrepreneur magazine to annually provide an answer to which are the best schools for teaching and equipping students to become successful entrepreneurs. This year's survey considered hundreds of colleges and universities in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Europe, and evaluated them on a multitude of factors—including their programming, their available mentors, and their graduates' success rates in the business world.
Belmont’s place as 6th in the South, 26 overall and for the second year as No. 1 in Tennessee shows how strongly the university is positioned for success in the exciting and competitive entrepreneurial field.